The mayor of London has hit back at politicians “spreading misinformation” about safety in the capital as new data showed the number of violent crimes leading to injury has fallen in every borough over the past year.
Figures from the mayor’s office for policing and crime, which compare the 12 months ending in August with the previous 12 months, showed there were 8,749 fewer crimes that resulted in someone being hurt – a drop of nearly 12 per cent – across the capital over that time.
While all 32 boroughs have seen a reduction, Havering in east London recorded the largest drop, with this type of crime down by 16.3 per cent, followed by Enfield in north London, where it fell by 16.1 per cent.
Greenwich saw the smallest decrease, with 4.3 per cent, followed by Kensington and Chelsea, with a drop of 4.6 per cent.
Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said: “We’ve seen a number of politicians, here and across the globe, talking down London and spreading misinformation about crime and safety in the capital.
“The evidence is clear: our approach to tackling crime, and its complex causes, works. It’s driving down violence right across the capital.”
Earlier this month, US president Donald Trump accused Sir Sadiq of doing a “terrible job”, in their long-running war of words, adding that “crime in London is through the roof”.
Sir Sadiq continued: “Violent crime with injury is down in every single London borough, and that is testament to the incredible work of our brave police officers – who are arresting more than 1,000 additional suspects each month, and solving crimes that involve victims at double the rate they were a year ago.
“This is alongside the prevention work in our communities, led by London’s violence reduction unit, which has delivered over 450,000 positive opportunities and activities to divert young people away from violence and exploitation.
“One death and one crime will always be one too many, and that’s why I’m working with partners, and the government, to build on this progress and enhance our collective efforts to drive down every single crime, wherever it happens in our great capital city, to deliver a safer London for everyone.”
According to the mayor’s office, overall homicides in London are at a 10-year low, with the capital’s rate lower than those of Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Madrid, and all major US cities.
The rate of homicide was down by 17 per cent in the 12-month period to June this year, compared with the 12-month period to May 2016.
Analysis of Office for National Statistics data, recorded in the 12 months to March this year, showed that Londoners are less likely to be a victim of violent crime (26.4 offences per 1,000 population) than people across the rest of England and Wales (31.9 offences per 1,000 population).
Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Rachel Williams said: “Violence with injury is down in every single borough – a clear sign that our approach is making a difference. Homicide is now at its lowest level in a decade, violent crime resulting in injury has fallen, and firearms discharges are less than half what they were seven years ago.
“We’re targeting the most dangerous individuals, disrupting criminal networks, and investing in prevention to protect those most at risk. That’s why fewer people are being hurt, fewer lives are being lost, and London is becoming a safer city.
“We won’t stop until every Londoner feels safe, wherever they live, work, or go to school. We’re committed to listening, learning, and improving, so that our progress is not just sustained but accelerated.”
The Tories rejected the suggestion that London is safer. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Sadiq Khan seems to be the only person who thinks there is no crime problem in London.
“He cherry-picks his numbers and hopes Londoners will forget the reality that knife crime is up 86 per cent on his watch, stop and search collapsed by more than half, and London now accounts for nearly half of all knife-point robberies in England.
“Under this Labour mayor, criminals know the odds are stacked in their favour. Only one in 20 robberies is solved, fewer offenders are being jailed, and more than a thousand police officers have been cut from the Metropolitan Police, with Sir Mark Rowley warning of further losses this year.
“Londoners don’t feel safer because London isn’t safer. Labour are weak on crime, soft on criminals, and too scared to confront the reality on our streets. It’s time for the Labour government and Labour mayor to wake up and get a grip, or get out of the way.”
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